Vector The Black And White Monitor Faq And Guide

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 1 of 51 The Black & White Vector Monitor FAQ and Guide 
Version 1.1 
February 7, 2002 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents 
 
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................2 
THEORY OF OPERATION...............................................................................................4 
MONITOR...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 2 of 51  
INTRODUCTION  
Note: Very little, if any, of this document is my own work. Information in this document has been 
taken from official factory manuals, technical updates, practical experience by others, etc. In many 
instances I have paraphrased or omitted information from the original documents for readability 
and/or clarity purposes. I thought it would be helpful, not only to myself, but to others having 
trouble with their B&W vector monitors. I...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 3 of 51 What Is A Vector Monitor 
(taken from the Bally/Midway Omega Race manual) 
 
Welcome to the world of the X-Y monitor, an electronic device that strikes terror into the heart of 
many a technician. The main reason it is so intimidating is that the Vector, Quadrascan, or X-Y 
monitor is TOTALLY UNLIKE the Rasterscan monitor or T.V. set as you probably call it. Since 
many technicians are generally unfamiliar with the circuit operation, they may not be able...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 4 of 51  
THEORY OF OPERATION  
To understand what goes on inside the monitor, large general groups of circuits will be examined 
instead of laboriously analyzing the branches and small circuits that make up these groups. This 
will help avoid confusion and aid in a basic, concrete, knowledge of what makes up a monitor. 
 
CAUTION!!!  LETHAL VOLTAGES ARE PRESENT IN THIS MONITOR, SUITABLE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SERVICE YOUR MONITOR....

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 5 of 51 input is about 7.5 volts AC. The “X” channel information represents parts of objects from LEFT to 
RIGHT on the screen.  The “Y” channel information represents parts of objects from TOP to 
BOTTOM on the screen. To get complete objects, then, you MUST have both the “X” and “Y” 
inputs. If this is so, then why aren’t the input voltages equal? Well, notice how a T.V. tube is 
shorter than it is wide? The up and down voltages (“Y” input = +/- 7.5 volts AC)...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 6 of 51 The amplified signal is applied to a cascade stage formed by Q605, Q606 and then applied to the 
basses of output transistors Q608, Q609. These transistors are operated class B in an emitter 
follower configuration. Current is coupled through F600 to the yoke and then to ground through the 
sense resistor R620. Very heavy feedback is applied from R620 to the base of Q603, to correct for 
any non-linearities in the amplifier. A considerable amount of power...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 7 of 51 If the “spot killer” didn’t come on when any of the above conditions exists, the electron beam 
wouldn’t be moved around and the phosphor in the center of the screen would be burned from the 
intense electron beam that is hitting it without moving. Transistors Q500 through Q502 and their 
circuitry affect the voltages on Q503 to turn the beam current off. This DOES NOT mean you have 
automatic protection against CRT burns from too much brightness. In...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 8 of 51 supply’. All of the secondary diodes are fast recovery to operate at the 30KHz oscillator frequency. 
Using normal diodes are a definite way to fry your flyback! 
 
 
 
THE CRT - (PICTURE TUBE)  
The CRT has already been described indirectly.  However, to make a picture or turn the CRT on, 
certain voltages are needed. Otherwise it won’t work.  These are: about 6 volts AC (note that’s AC) 
is needed for the heater filament in the tube neck to light up;...

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 9 of 51 But BE CAREFUL, picture tubes will hold a very healthy charge for at least a week if not longer. 
Even after you’ve discharged it once, it may still carry a residual charge. It’s better to be too careful 
than dead, which is why electronic equipment always carries stickers referring servicing to 
qualified personnel. Handle the side with the viewing screen against your chest when changing it. 
ALWAYS wear safety goggles when handling the picture tube....

Black & White Vector Monitor Guide  
Page 10 of 51 All the Atari Italian-built vector games - Battlezone and Asteroids, used a vector monitor produced 
by Hantarex. The Italian-built Elettronolo Star Castle bootleg (Stellar Castle) also used a Hantarex 
vector monitor. 
 
There were some (factory?) conversion kits for Atari’s Football that had you swap the yoke, HV 
and deflection boards, and play Asteroids on a 25” tube. Does anyone have any further information 
on this? 
 
 
 
Game Monitors Used Lunar...